Uncategorized

The Closing of a Chapter

Published on September 4, 2010 in Uncategorized. Closed

After much discussion, prayer and discernment the Bullarto Uniting Church congregation has come to the conclusion that it is no longer viable to remain open as a congregation.

This has been a very difficult decision.  It has also been a courageous decision.It takes a great deal of courage to be able to acknowledge that something we love is no longer working or life giving.  This is what the few remaining folk of Bullarto Uniting Church have been able to do.

Most often, new life is stultified whilst we insist on clinging to the past or the way things were.

In being able to name what has ‘died’ I think the wise people of Bullarto Uniting Church now leave space open for the Divine’s new plans.

As Jesus says: a grain of wheat must fall to earth and die in order for new life and fruit to burst out and grow. (John 12:24)

The Closing Service for Bullarto Uniting Church will be on Sunday September 19 at 2:30pm  

And everyone is warmly invited to attend

After the service there will be afternoon tea 

Faulty Grammar Fabulous Intent

Published on July 7, 2010 in Uncategorized. Closed

There is a phrase that younger people use at the moment that I quite like.

‘My bad’ is popular way of acknowledging you own fault if you have made a mistake.

Whilst this is grammatically questionable, I really warm to this honest expression that younger people have adopted.

As a ‘Gen X’ I can’t think of an equivalent phrase that admits fault with such ease. And as I think of generations older than myself I also struggle to recall such easy admission of mistake.

Instead often, if you do hear older people admitting fault, it is with a qualification:  ‘I am sorry but I didn’t know…’ or ‘I am sorry but it wasn’t my intention….’

It if refreshing that in our younger generations there appears to be a greater ease with self and with our fallible nature as humans.

Being able to actually see when we have been wrong, and being able to publicly name this is a mature, wise thing.   For we can only turn around from missing the mark when we are able to see that we have been way off track and acknowledge this.

Even though we may not choose to use the language of ‘Gen Y’, and those younger, by adopting the phrase ‘my bad’, I hope that we can share in a little of their courage to see things openly and admit our faults honestly.  For in being honest with our mistakes the potential for new learning and greater life is born.

Blessings on you in your journey,
Sal

Rev. Sally Douglas

Suffering and Mascara

Published on May 12, 2010 in Uncategorized. Closed

I recently heard an interview on Radio National’s ‘All in the Mind’ about wisdom.  A panel of speakers had been gathered to share their reflections on the topic.  An excellent exploration unfolded on the nature of wisdom and within this the place of suffering was discussed.

Educationalist Edward de Bono (of the 6 hats fame), rather oddly suggested that the impact of suffering was like women wearing mascara.  He unpacked this seemingly rather patronising statement by saying that suffering, like mascara, highlighted the good bits.

Whilst I rarely wear mascara, and was at first taken aback by his comment, I warmed to his analogy.

In my own experience suffering has magnificently highlighted those things in life that are important, whilst at the same time significantly helping to put everything else into perspective.

In the most recent heavy suffering that I have endured- of watching our baby twins struggle for life and health after being born at 28 weeks, everything- what was important and what was not, came into sharp relief.

This continues.  After not being able to embrace our little ones as they lay in intensive care for what seemed like aeons, each embrace continues to be unspeakably precious.  Yes it is extremely busy, yes it is exhausting, but these things do not compare with the reality that could have been, of not having them here at all.

If we enter into suffering, if we allow ourselves to face it and express it, if we surrender to its flow- suffering can be an unbidden teacher.  I shed many a tear, I made pictures as I prayed, I wrote a great deal to help the sheer pressure of the pain out of my blood stream.

But I suspect there will always be an arrow shot through me. Maybe this is ok.  When I see or hear of other parents going through great suffering with their babies or little ones enduring difficult pain, a little of my heart bursts open again.

As the Christian Mystic Matthew Fox says:

‘Our nothingness experiences, are lessons in wisdom, preludes to compassion.  They put us in touch with the depths of others who also undergo the truth of nothingness of being…suffering can make our souls grow larger.’ The Coming of Cosmic Christ

There is no record of Jesus wearing mascara that I am aware of.  But in this One’s suffering the good bits are definitely highlighted.  Jesus radiates the kind of practical love that will not buy into the cycles of hate or envy that so dominate our culture. Jesus refuses to compete or put down or retaliate to other’s violence or toxicity.  In life, and most remarkably in death (and beyond) this One-Jesus, will not be shaped by what is ultimately not real or important.  Instead Jesus consistently exudes compassion.

And there is power in this for us- this is what resurrection is about.  A new way of being that is about liberation from all that is not important so that we can be more and more graced to live into the way of the ‘good bits’: wholeness and reconnection, empathic compassion and joy, inner peace and robust authenticity

Rev. Sally Douglas

Trentham Uniting Leave the Building

Published on April 7, 2010 in Uncategorized. Closed

A lot of people I know are interested in spirituality, they like to discuss questions about God and purpose and faith.

However, these same people would be very unlikely to turn up at a church to explore such things.

The congregation at Trentham Uniting Church has a sense of this.  And therefore they have decided to leave the building! Once a month the Trentham Uniting Church congregation is having ‘Cafe Church’ at Mrs Marples Cafe in High St Trentham.

In this relaxed setting anyone is welcome to come along and join in good coffee and stimulating conversation.  Here questions are welcome and there will space together- to reflect together, listen to one another and to listen within.

Our next Cafe Church is on Sunday 9th May

9:30am - 10:30am

Mrs Marples Cafe High St Trentham

WORSHIP TIMES IN HOLY WEEK

Published on March 22, 2010 in Uncategorized. Closed

Easter Worship Services in the Highlands Cluster

Monday in Holy Week 29th March

Meditation on Easter theme at Blackwood Uniting Church 7pm

Maundy Thursday 1st April

A reflective service with foot washing ceremony at Trentham Uniting Church 7pm

Good Friday 2nd April

Worship exploring the mystery of the Cross at Ballan Uniting Church 9:30am

Easter Day Sunday 4th April

Dawn service celebration at Pentland Hills Uniting Church 6:30am

Highlands Cluster celebration of the Divine’s invincible life and love at Daylesford Uniting Church 10:30am, followed by a festive lunch

Everyone is welcome to these events: whether you have been to church often, never, or not in a long time

MINGLING AT THE MITCHELL BEGINS

Published on March 15, 2010 in Daylesford, Events, Featured, Highlands Cluster and Uncategorized. Closed

The Daylesford Uniting Church has been involved in a deep discerning process over many months about what it is being called to do and be as a church by the Divine.

Through sharing in hopes and dreams, in speaking honestly about failings in the past and our strengths, in sharing over meals, in silence, in brainstorming and in prayer and in ongoing discussion, the congregation has now adopted its vision

Embracing Difference - Sharing the Hospitality of Jesus

This vision will be lived out in many ways, but one of the first was launched last Friday with ‘Mingle at the Mitchell’.

Each Friday morning between 10:00am and 11:30am, members of the congregation are creating a ‘cafe space’ at the little hall at church.  Here there is good fair trade coffee and tea all for only a gold coin donation. 

Magazines and newspapers are available to flick through, music is in the background and here is the opportunity to get to know other locals - to meet others and maybe even make new friends. This aims to be a non threatening space in which all are welcome.

Last Friday’s ‘Mingle at the Mitchell’ was full of laughter and the sharing of hospitality.  It was great to be part of. All are very welcome to pop by… come for as long or as little as you like.

Mitchell Hall, 56 Central Springs Road, Daylesford.

Rev. Sally Douglas

GOD BEHIND BARS

Published on March 4, 2010 in Uncategorized. Closed

What does Christianity mean when you are behind bars?  What are freedom, responsibility, repentance and new life about when you are incarcerated?

What is Jesus’ message of new life like for those in prison?  How is this message shared and how is this message heard?

Dynamic, thought provoking, faithful and down to earth prison chaplain Jenny Hayes will be speaking at Ballan Uniting Church Hall on Thursday March 11 at 1:30pm.

We are asking for a $5 dollar donation at the door, with all proceeds going towards prison chaplaincy.

Afternoon tea will follow this engaging conversation.

All are very welcome to attend.

This event is proudly hosted by the Ballan UCAF (Uniting Church Adult Fellowship)

THE SLOWING DOWN, CONFRONTING, SACRED SPACE OF LENT

Published on February 16, 2010 in Uncategorized. Closed

At the centre of the circle sat a bowl of ash, next to it a lit candle and an open bible.

After a period of silence each person was invited to share what had come up for them in the stillness. One person motioned to the bowl of ash and frankly said: ‘Well I don’t like that.’

This reaction came as we shared in our first Highlands Cluster Lenten Study, to explore the wise, life giving book: ‘Practicing our Faith’ edited by Dorothy Bass.

Ash can be confronting.  Especially if we have held the ashes of a loved one.

Ash is a powerful reminder that our lives here on earth are not infinite.  We often do not wish to face this reality head on.

However, for those of us who have been confronted with the stark reality of death or great tragedy, in our own lives or in the lives a loved one, you may well have experienced how things can become crystal clear in this period.  Amidst the grief, anxiety and fear absolute clarity can emerge about what is important in life and what is just trivia.

It often takes death to show us what real life is about. Sadly, over time this clarity can fade as life, with all its demands, intrudes.

During the Christian Season of Lent, which cycles around and leads us to Easter, ash is a powerful symbol that speaks of this season’s deep invitation to face again the reality that our lives here will end.  And to take some time to think deeply and pray openly about what is actually important in our living here and now; for us, for others, and in our relationship with the Holy One.

Rather than Lent being about simply giving up some food source, in this slowing down, sacred space, we are invited to wake up and reflect on what life is really about.

If you would like to take up the authentic invitation of this season, some questions to ponder might include: What is pulling at your time? What choices are you making? Who is benefiting from your choices and who is losing?  What is giving you life and what is sapping your energy? Are you making choices or are you letting things happen to you?  How are you giving and how are you receiving? How are you really traveling within, and what new life might the Divine - who breaks into our lives in Jesus - be calling you to?

In this season of Lent may there be space for you; for reflection, communing with God and sharing with others about these deepest of things.

There will be Cluster Worship for the first Sunday in Lent

Ballan Uniting Church
Sunday 21st February
10:30 am

All are very welcome- whether you are a regular church goer
or you haven’t been in ages, or ever.

The worship will be followed by a simple shared lunch - please do not bring any food it will be provided. 

Blessings on your journey.

Rev. Sally Douglas

LATTICE WORK

Published on January 24, 2010 in Uncategorized. Closed

Lately I have enjoyed getting into the garden when I can.  Often this has been in the early evening as the summer light lingers and the babes sleep.

In these moments it has been particularly satisfying to gently train some creepers.  One of these, the native ‘Happy Wanderer’, has been so prolific that I discovered that it had begun to twist in on itself, lapping over its own vines and getting tangled.

I hadn’t provided this plant a high enough lattice to grow up and so it had instead turned in on itself.  I have now attended to this, improvising with twisted wire and pliers.

However this plant’s growth led me to reflect on us. I think we humans can be the same.  Some of us are ‘fast’ growers, some of us are ’slow and steady’ plants, yet most of us need a ‘lattice’.

We need to be supported and stretched: intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically too.  If we are not, we tend to start curling up; becoming tangled within our own heads, twisted in our feelings, stunted in our thoughts or actions.

The kind of ‘lattice’ supports that each of us need in our lives will vary.  These may be found in the arts, deep reading, sport, theology, prayer practices, serving others, education, puzzles, or for a holistic approach, perhaps all of these things combined.

We each need to be supported and stretched, for we have this inner impulse to grow and if we don’t grow up, we grow weary in body, mind or soul. \Whatever our ‘lattice’ is, I don’t think we will find it in continually collapsing in front of the telly or in surfing the net. Such things can be relaxing and distracting for a while, but ultimately they don’t satisfy. And, furthermore, it is when we think that we have arrived that we are in most danger of becoming completely stagnant.

No wonder that Jesus describes himself as ‘the Way’ and calls us on a journey of ongoing discovery, growth and discipleship - rather than to some illusionary, conceited mythology that we are already there.

Blessings on you, in your gardening and in your growing.  May you find the ‘lattice’ supports that you need, so that you can, day by day, grow into all that God dreams you to be.

Rev Sal Douglas

Humble Word

Published on January 5, 2010 in Uncategorized. Closed

A Live Nativity Scene- Daylesford Uniting Church Christmas 2009

Live nativity scene at Daylesford Uniting Church Christmas 2009

The Word became flesh and lived among us.

The strange beautiful belief at the heart of Christianity, as eloquently expressed by the author of John’s Gospel: The Word became flesh and lived among us (John Chapter 1).

This is what we celebrate at Christmas.

That in mystery the Divine actually breaks into our reality, in person, in Jesus - The Word - the Wisdom of God.

Debates rage in some circles about whether there was a miraculous birth, whether a particularly special star graced the sky, whether hated sheep farmers (shepherds were mistrusted and despised in this culture) were the first to hear of the news of Jesus’ birth from angels.

However when we get hooked into these debates, arguing for these things or arguing against them, we can miss something of the profundity that is being pointed to here in these strange events recorded in the accounts of Jesus’ birth.

These events, that are rich in symbolism and resonance, reveal something of the nature of the Divine - as embodied in Jesus.

The Divine comes to us in Christ in utter humility - born homeless.

The Divine comes to us in Christ in extravagant inclusiveness - welcoming the outcasts.

The Divine comes to us in Christ in tender vulnerability - born to an unmarried woman in a strict patriarchal culture.

This is what Christians celebrate at Christmas: this humble, inclusive, vulnerable God who graces our earth in Jesus the Christ.

And this is the Divine who continues to grace our lives - continuing to heal us and ever calling us to be more and more Christ like: humble, radically welcoming and gently open.

Blessings on you at this time of celebrating the humble Word who comes among us.

Rev. Sally Douglas